Autumn splendour in London

By Sophie Campbell

Why go? 

After a spectacular couple of years featuring a Wedding, a Jubilee and an Olympics, London has a twinkle in its eye and a spring in its step. Central London has never looked better following huge redevelopment projects everywhere you look: King’s Cross Station and its environs, the Paddington Basin, London Bridge with its soaring 1,000-foot-plus pyramid, The Shard, and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park itself. Despite the economic gloom, restaurants, bars and theatres are buzzing and the city is hunkering down for a busy and exciting summer. And we thought it was all over. 

Autumn foliage 

London boasts dozens of parks where you can enjoy a bit of autumnal colour. Among the best are Richmond Park (pictured below) there's a free autumn bird walk taking place on October 19; www.royalparks.org.uk/whats-on), Regent's Park (an autumn ramble is scheduled for October 12; www.royalparks.org.uk/whats-on), Hyde Park (pictured top), Hampstead Heath, Greenwich Park, and St James's Park. 

One way to explore the capital's green spaces is on a Royal Parks Walk: there are five of them in the centre of town and it only takes three hours to walk across them all, using the excellent interactive maps on the website (www.royalparks.org.uk) 

Otherwise head to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew (www.kew.org), where you'll find scarlet vines, fiery smoke trees and red and gold maples. 

Exhibitions 

Tate Modern

Paul Klee (October 16-March 9); Mira Schendel (September 25-January 19). www.tate.org.uk 

Tate Britain

Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life (until October 20); Art Under Attack: Histories of British Iconoclasm (October 2-January 5). www.tate.org.uk 

National Gallery

Michael Landy: Saints Alive (until November 24); Facing the Modern: The Portrait in Vienna 1900 (October 9 - January 12). www.nationalgallery.org.uk 

National Portrait Gallery 

Laura Knight Portraits (until October 13); Elizabeth I & Her People (October 10 - January 5). www.npg.org.uk 

British Museum 

Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum (until September 29); Shunga: Sex and Pleasure in Japanese Art (October 3 - January 5); Beyond El Dorada: Power and Gold in Ancient Colombia (October 17-March 23). www.britishmuseum.org 

V&A 

Memory Palace (until October 20); Club to Catwalk (pictured below; until February 16). www.vam.ac.uk 

Natural History Museum 

Wildlife Photographer of the Year (October 18-March 23). www.nhm.ac.uk 

Science Museum 

Only in England: Photographs by Tony Ray-Jones and Martin Parr (September 21-March 16). www.sciencemuseum.org.uk 

British Library 

Picture This: Children's Illustrated Classics (October 4-January 26); Georgians Revealed (November 8-March 11). www.bl.uk 

Other events 

Open House London

On the weekend of September 21-22, dozens of private establishments will be opening their doors to the public, including Battersea Power Station and Middle Temple Hall. www.londonopenhouse.org 

Tour of Britain cycling

The climax of this week-long race, which this year will feature sprinter Mark Cavendish and Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins (pictured below), takes place in the capital on September 22. thetour.co.uk 

BFI London Film Festival

The annual showcase takes place from October 9-20. www.bfi.org.uk/lff 

The Big Draw

London hosts the world's largest celebration of drawing throughout October. www.campaignfordrawing.org/bigdraw 

Frieze Art Fair

Regent's Park will again play host to this annual art fair, which features stalls, talks, film screenings, performances and a exhibitions. friezelondon.com 

London Restaurant Festival

A range of gastronomic events will be taking place from October 3-21. Expect discounted menus, a "Gourmet Odyssey" bus ride around the capital's best eateries, and foodie film night. www.londonrestaurantfestival.com 

Regent Street Motor Show

Britain's biggest free motor show (pictured below) takes over Regent Street on November 3, while shops on the road remain open until 10pm. www.regentstreetmotorshow.com 

Bonfire Night

Firework displays take place on or around November 5, with venues usually including Blackheath Common, Battersea Park, Wimbledon Park and Morden Park. 

The Lord Mayor's Show

On November 9, the City of London celebrates the election of its new Lord Mayor with a magnificent procession from the City to Westminster where the new incumbent pledges his/her loyalty to the monarch. These days the centuries-old pageantry is combined with a carnival atmosphere, with some hilarious floats go by and the English doing their favourite thing: wearing uniform. www.lordmayorsshow.org